Vertical venetian blind



April 8, 1952 F w, Bopp ET AL 2,591-,775

VERTICAL VENETIAN BLIND Filed Aug. 1e, 1950 3 sheets-'sheet 1 Afm/wey@ April 8, 1952 F. w. BOPP ETAL VERTICAL VENETIAN BLIND Filed Aug. 16, 1950 jay-f mw .WMM i@ ,rm Z 6a. A i

April 8, 1952 F. w. BOPP TAL VERTICAL VENETIAN BLIND 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 16, 1950 m www. J. w mwa m f a .f/v/m Z A d Ff lobjects which will appear Patented pr. 8, 1952 OFFICE 2,591,775 VERTICAL VENETIAN BLIND Frederick W. Bopp and Edward O. Hopp,

Kansas City, Mo.

Application August 16, 1950, Serial No. 179,728 6 claims. (o1. 16o-.16%)

This invention relates to new and useful im-f provements in window blinds, and has particular class of window blinds knownas Venetian blinds.

The' principal object of the present invention is the provision of vertical Venetian blind comprising' a plurality of parallel slats extending across a window, and means whereby said slats may i be either turned simultaneously on their longitudinal axes to regulate the light passing therebetween, or moved transversely to their axes to uncover the window opening.

Another object is the provision of means whereby said slats may be divided at the central portion of the blind and moved transversely in sets to opposite sides of the window opening.

A further object is the provision, in a window blind of the class described, of slats made of fabric or other pliable material, and means for tensioning said slats.. v

Another object is the provision, in a window blind having pliable slats, of means for twisting said slats about their longitudinal axes, whereby to permit novel decorative eiects and whereby to permit further adjustment and regulation of light passing between the slats.

Another object is the provision of new and improved structure for carrying out the above objects. j

Further objects are simplicity and economy of structure, ease and convenience of operation, and adaptability for use in various applications where- '.in it is desired to regulate the passage of light or air through an opening.,

With these objects in view, as well as other in the course of the specification, reference will behad to the drawing, wherein:

jFigure 1 is a front elevational view of a vertical Venetian blind embodying the present invention attached to a window frame, the blind shown in thelcompletely closed position.

Fig. 2 vis a sectional view taken on line II-II of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line III- III of- Fig. 1, with the slats turned axially to the full open position.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged, foreshortened sectional :view taken on line IV-IV of Fig.. 1.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken o nline V--V of Fig. 2, with parts broken away.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary section taken on line VI-VI 0f Fig. 5.

-Fig..7 is a fragmentary section taken on line .Avn-vn of Fig- 5.

Fig.V 9 is an enlarged section taken on -line Fig. 10 Vis an enlarged fragmentary section taken on line X-X of Fig. 1.

Fig. 11 isan enlarged, foreshortened section taken on line XI-XI of Fig. 1. Fig. 12 is a, fragmentary section taken on line XII-XII 0f Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is an enlarged fragmentary section takenV on line XIII-XIII of Fig. 1. l

Like reference numerals apply to similar parts throughout the several views, and the numeral 2 applies to a rectangular window frame forming Fig. 8- is a fragmentary sectiontaken on line 55 `V'iII---VIII lofwFig. 4.

a window opening 4. Extending across said window frame at the upper and lower edges thereof are apair of support members 6 and 8 formed 'ofsheet metal and comprising hollow beams of substantially square cross-sections, as best shown in Figs. 4, 10, and 12. Eachend of each of said support members is mounted removably in a bracket l secured to window frame 2 by any suitable means such as screws l0. As shown in Fig. 1, said brackets are channel shaped and extend horizontally inwardly from the window frame, and the channels at the opposite sides of the window Vare confronting whereby the end portions of support members 6 and 8 may be slid into said brackets in a direction at right angles to the plane of the window.

The construction of the upper and lower support members 6 and 8 is identical except that the lower support member is inverted. The bottom wall l2 of upper support member 6, and the' upper Vwall I4 of lower support member, are longitudinally slotted along their midlines at I6, said slots extending the full lengths of said support members. The support members are formed to present confronting guide channels I8 along the opposite edges of slots IB for a purpose hereinafter set forth. The ends of each support member are substantially closed by plates disposed at right `angles to the axis of the support member, the

Vbolts 24. Extending axially through each support member is a square shaft 26, `said shaft being mounted rotatably in round holes 28 formed centrally in end plates 2li and 22, as best shown in Fig. 12, and secured against longitudinal movement by pins 30inserted therethrough adjacent the outer surfaces of said end plates, as best shown in Figs. 5 and 11. Y

Disposed within each of support members 6 and cent support members 6 and 8, and

8 are a plurality of carriages 32 spaced axially apart. Each of said carriages, as detailed in Figs` 4 to 8 is substantially U-shaped and formed of a single piece of sheet metal, having parallel, spaced apart side walls 34 disposed at right angles to the axes of support members 6 and 8, and a connecting wall 36 disposed substantially in the plane of slot I6. Connecting wall 36 is provided with ears 38 extending transversely to the support-members, said ears slidably engaging guide channels I8 whereby said carriages may be slidably movedlongitudinally in said support members. The side walls 34 of each carriage are provided with round holes 40 for rotatably accommodating shaft 26, as best shown in Fig. 10.

Each carriage 32 carries a vertical shaf-t 42 disposed at right angles to the axis of the associated support member, said shaft being rotatable in a hole 44 formed therefore centrally in connecting Wall 36 of the carriage. At its outer endsaid shaft is formed to present a hook including a bar 46 extending at right angles Vto the shaft and adapted to engage a blind s-lat 50 as hereinafter described, and a connecting leg 48 joining the outer end of said shaft with one end of said bar. Said shaft, hook bar, and connecting leg are preferably unitary and formed of sheet metal. It will be noted that leg 48 is disposedl in a plane at right angles to the blind slats.- This permits the ends of the slats to be brought closely adjathus to cover the window opening more completely. The slats 50,- which may be plastic, fabric, or other pliable material, are each looped at opposite ends for engagement with the hook ing shafts 42' carried by support members. Y f Mounted on each shaft 42 within the associthe upper and lower bars 46 of correspond- 2 ated carriage is a pinion 52, the hub of said pinf ion resting in rotating contactwith the connect- `ingwall 36 of said carriage. Said pinion is longitudinally slidable on said shaft, but is prevented from rotating thereon by the non-circular crosssectio'nal shape of the shaft, and the correspond ingly` shaped aperture in said pinion. A compression spring 54 is disposed about an inwardly extended portion of shaft 42, bearing at one end against a face of pinion 52 at its opposite end Vagainst a pin 56 inserted transversely through saidlsllaf-t'.V Said springs serve both to tension theislats 56, thereby adjusting for` shrinkage or 'stretching of the slats', and to' maintain. pinions 52. against walls 36 of the carriages regardless of the' longitudinal movement of shafts 42. Each pinion 52 operatively meshes with a circular cog -wheel 58 mounted concentrically on shaft 26. #Said cog wheels are illustrated as circular discs :having holes formed therethrough in spaced relation around the edges thereof for receiving the `pinion teeth. Each of said cog wheels is fixed to :a squared tubular hub 60 as best shown in Figs. 141 and 5, said hubs being slidable along shaft 26 (but non-rotatable thereon. Each hub Suf is 4=Irl'ail'ltained in proper relation to its aSS'Of-ate'd v-c"a"rriagez3 2` by its inclusion between the side walls 34 of said carriage.

Referring to Figs. l', 5, 6, 9, and 10, it willbe 'seen that ay square tubular member' 62 is disposed vparallel to the shaft 42 of the left-most carriage -32-v of both the upper and lower support mem'- bers 6` and 8`, lying adjacent left-most slat 58. `A-Each of said Vtubular members is provided with a -redu'eed extension 64 substantially coextensive rwith and v`42., Said extension projects through the associdisposed agains-t'the associated shaft 4 ated pinion 52, spring 54, and is secured in position by pin 56. The tubular members 62 are thus locked to and turn with the associated shafts 42. A square drive rod 66 extends vertically relative to the window, and its end portions are carried slidably but non-rotatably in the tubular` members 64. Rod 66 is provided with a handle 68 as shown in Fig. 1, said handle normally lying against the rod as shown in solid lines, but adapted to be pivoted to the position shown in dotted lines to serve as a normal means for turning the rod.

When said rod is turned, it will drive through tubular members 62, pinions 52 of the left-most carriages 32, cog wheels 58 engaged by said pinions, and shaft 26 to turn the rest of cog wheels 58, pinions 52, and shafts 42. All of the slats will thus be turned about their longitudinal axes. simultaneously and in like degree.

The slats are suiiciently wide to overlap when parallel to the plane of the window, as shown in Fig. l, and may be turned as above described to ay position as shown in Fig. 3, at right angles to the plane of th'e window.- The total angle of turn possible is just less' than 180 degrees. Also, it is apparent that by lifting rod 66 out of engagement with the lower tubular memberv S2, one end of the slats' may be' turned while leaving opposite' ends stationary. `This of course causes a twisting of the pliable slats, which is useful in regulating the" passage of light through the upper and lower portions of the blind, and which produces novel decorative effects'. Twisting the slat of course' materially reduces their length, and

this is compensated for by the longitudinal movement of shafts 42 against the pressure of springs 54. While rod 66 and tubes 62 are shown square, it is evident that other polygonal shapes could' be used to provide more possible degrees of angular twist.. It'lwill be noted in Figure 4 that eachV shaft 42 isf shouldered at 18 to limit its movement into the associatedA support member.

It will be noted in Figs. 2 and ll thatv the two central carriages 32 ineacli of.v the support members are further designated` by the numerals 12 'and '14, T2 beill'gf lfl'ffl Central Carriage and 'i4 being the right central carriage. A flexible chain ie is .gelaufenL one @mi to carriage 12 at its""oppositev end to` leftA end plate 2li,- and at reguiany space-d intermediate points is secured to the 'carriages 3'2 bettveen carriage '12 and said end plate. A similar flexible chain 'I8 isr secured at one end to` right central carriage 14, at its oppo- =site end to right end plate 22, -atregularly spaced intermediate points to the carriages 32 between carriage 'i4 and end plate 22. As best'shown in Figs. 4,8, 10, and 1 2, sa-i chains may beof the beaded type, and theside walls 34 of carriages 32 and end walls 2U and--2- are slotted as at 80 ,for receiving said-chains.- When said chains are fully extended as` in? the drawing, 4carriages- 32 are disposed in substantially equally spaced relation-along supportmefnbers 6 l and S Afpaii-` of I'Jiilleys'82"and 84 are" carried rotata- `blyby the left end plate 20 of each` of support members 6 8`,saidvpulieys being disposed on a horizontal axis at right anglesto the axis of "the support members and disposed respectively on" opposite sides ofthe longitudinal mid-line of A pair of pulleys 86 and 88 are carried rotatably by the rightend plate 22'V off" each support member`,said pulleys being disposed on vertical axes atrightangles to the :axis 'of the supportmember'. `A cable 9D is formed in an endless elongated loop associated with pulleys 82, 84, 86, and 88 as follows. One end of said loop is passed around pulleys 86 and 88 at the right end of upper support member 6. Said loop extends longitudinally through said support member, the opposite reaches thereof passing respectively over pulleys 82 and 84 at the left end of support member 6. Said loop then extends downwardly adjacent the left edge of window frame 2, over pulleys 82 and 84 at the left end of support member 8,v through support member 8. and around pulleys 86 and 89 at the right end of said support member. The ends of said cable are connected by a fixture 92. Said fixture is preferably disposed between upper and lower support members 6 and 8, as shown in Fig. 1, whereby to serve as a handle for operating said cable.

Fixture 92, detailed in Fig. 13, comprises a tubular body member 94 closed at one end by a wall 96 and having a removable cap 98 at its opposite end. One end of cable 98 passes through said'cap and is prevented from pulling through said cap -by an enlargement |88 affixed to said cable within said body member. The other end -of cable 98 passes through a hole |82 in end wall 96 of thebody member, and through a washer |84, and has an enlargement |86 to prevent it from pulling through said washer. A compression spring |88 is disposed within the body member between washer |84 and end wall 96, and serves to maintain cable 88 taut at all times. It will be noted, particularly in Figs. 3 and 8, that the left brackets I are notched at ||8 and that support members 6 and 8 are notched at ||2, to

permit the passage of cable 98. Referring to Figs. 2 and 11, it will be seen that one reach of cable 98 is secured to the left central carriage 12 of upper support member 8 at I I4, and to right central carriage 14 of lower support member 8 at |I6. The other reach of said cable is secured to right central carriage 14 of upper support member 6 at H8, and to left central carriage 12 of lower support' member 9 at |28. Thus it is apparent that when `fixture 92 is grasped and moved upwardly, left central carriages 12 of both support members will be moved to the left and right central carriages |4 moved to the right, said carriages sliding along shaft 26 and in guide channels I8 of the support members. When said central carriages have moved far enough to` contact the carriages 32 spaced outwardly therefrom, these outward carriages will also be moved, and so on until all of the carriages are closely grouped at opposite sides of the window. Said carriages of course move slats 58 transversely to uncover the window frame.

The operation of the blind is believed apparent from the foregoing description. The slats 58 may be moved transversely, dividing in the middle and moving to opposite sides of the window, by means of cable 98. It is of course apparent that the slats could be caused to move transversely "all in one direction, simply by attaching cable 98 to the end most of carriages 32, rather than to the central carriages. The slatsmay be turned about their longitudinal axes by turning rod 66 by means of handle 68. The rotational and transverse movements of the slats are operationally independent, that is either movement may be made without affecting the other. The slats may be twisted about their longitudinal axes by lifting rod 66 and of engagement with the lower of tubes 62, turning, and reinserting in tube 62. The blind is simple, may be economically manufactured, and will give trouble-free service.

While we have shown a specific embodiment of desire to protect by carried by both of said support members simultaneously in either direction, a shaft carried rotatably by each of said carriages at right angles to the axes of said support members, a plurality of slats extending between said support members and each connected at its A opposite ends to corresponding shafts of 'said' support members, a drive shaft carried rotatably in each of said support members and extending longitudinally therethrough, a pinion carried non-rotatably on each of said slat shafts, a cog wheel carried rotatably by each of said carriages in mesh with the associated pinion, said cog wheels being carried for axial sliding movement on said drive shaft but secured against rotation thereon, and a rod extending between said support members and having its ends connected non-rotatably to a pair of corresponding slat shafts carried by said support members.

2. A Venetian blind comprising a pair of elongated support members Vadapted to be disposed in parallel relation along opposite edges of a window frame, a plurality of carriages carried for longitudinal movement in each of said support members, means for moving the carriages carried by both of said support members simultaneously in either direction, a shaft carried rotatably by each` of said carriages at right angles to the axes of said support members, aplurality of pliable slats extending between said support members and each connected at its opposite ends to corresponding shafts of said support members, a drive shaft carried rotatably' by each of said support members and a extending longitudinally therethrough, a pinion carried non-rotatably on each of said slat shafts, a cog wheel carried rotatably by each of said carriages in mesh with the associated pinion, said cog wheels being carried for axial sliding movement on said drive shafts but secured against rotation thereon, and a rod extending between said support ymembers and having its ends secured non-rotatively to a. pair of corresponding slat shafts carried by said support members.

3. A Venetian blind comprising a pair of elon gated support members adapted to be disposed in parallel relation along opposite edges of a window frame, a plurality of carriages carried for longitudinal movement in each of said support members, means for moving the carriages carried by both of said support members simultaneously in either direction, a shaft carried rotatably by each of said carriages at right angles to the axes of said support members, a plurality of pliable slats extending between said support members and each connected at its opposite ends to corresponding shafts of said support members. a drive shaft carried rotatably by each of said support members and extending longitudinally therethrough, a pinion carried non-rotatably on each of said slat shafts a cog wheelcarried rotatably by each of said carriages in mesh with the associated pinion, said cog wheels being carriesci :for axial sliding movement on said drive shafts .but .secured against rotation thereon. and a rod extending between .said support members and having its ends secured non-rotatively to a pair of eorresponding slat shafts carried by .Said support members, said rod being split and having an adjustably rotatable connection between the sections thereof, whereby `said pliable slats may be twisted about their longitudinal axes.

4. A Venetian blind comprising a pair of elongated support members adapted to be disposed in parallel relation along opposite edges of a window frame, a plurality of carriages carried for longitudinal movement in each of said support members, means for moving the carriages carried by both of said support members simultaneously in either direction, a shaft carried rotatably by each of said carriages at right angles to the axes of said support members, a plurality of pliable slats extending between said support members and each connected at its opposite ends to corresponding shafts of said support members, a drive shaft carried rotatably by each of said support members and extending longitudinally therethrough, a pinion carried non-rotatably on each of said SlatV shafts a cog wheel carried rotatably by each .of said carriages in mesh with the associated pinion, said cog wheels being carried for axial sliding movement on said drive shafts v,but secured against rotation thereon, a

squared tubular member secured non-rotatively to each of a pair of corresponding slat shafts of said ksupport members, and a square rod extending between said support members and having its end portions carried slidably in said tubular members, whereby said rod may be disengaged from one of said tubular members to permit independent .relative turning of the opposite ends of said pliable slats.

5. A Venetian blind comprising a pairof elongated support members adapted to be disposed in parallel relation along opposite edges of a window frame, a plurality of carriages carried for longitudinal movement in each of said support members, means for moving the carriages carried by both of said support members simultaneously in either direction, a shaft carried for rotation and axial sliding movement by each of said carriages at right angles to the axis of said support member, a plurality of pliable slats extending between said support members and each connected at its opposite ends to corresponding shafts of said support members, resilient means whereby the shafts vcarried by the respective support members are urged apart to tension said slats, a pinion carried for axial sliding movement on each of said shafts but secured against rotation thereon, a drive shaft carried rotatably by each of said support members and extending longitudinally therethrough, a cog wheel carried by each of said carriages in mesh with the associated pinion, said cog wheels having an axial sliding connection with said drive shaft but being secured against rotation thereon, and an operating rod extending between said support members and having its ends secured non-rotatively to a corresponding pair of said slat shafts.

6. A Venetian blind comprising a pair of elongated support members adapted to be disposed in parallel relation along opposite edges of a window frame, a plurality of carriages carried for longitudinal movement in each of said support members, means for moving the carriages carried by both Aof said support members simultaneously in either direction, a shaft carried for rotation and axial sliding movement by each of said carriages at right angles to the axis of said support member, a plurality of pliable slats extending between said support members and each connected at its opposite ends to corresponding shafts of said support members, a pinion carried for axial sliding movement on each of said shafts but secured against rotation thereon, a drive shaft carried rotatably by each of said support members and extending longitudinally therethrough, a cog wheel carried rotatably by each of said carriages in mesh with the associated pinion, said cog wheels being slidable on said drive shafts but secured against rotation thereon, a spring carried on each of said slat shafts,

' whereby the slat shafts carried by the respective support members are urged apart to tension said slats and whereby said pinions are maintained longitudinally stationary to mesh with said cog wheels, and an operating rod extending between said support members and having its ends secured non-rotatively to a corresponding pair of said Aslat shafts, said operating rod being split intermediate its ends and having a rotatably adjustable connection between the sections thereof.

FREDERICK W. BOPP.

EDWARD O. BOPP.

narsssriens CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Bate 2,039,234 Villalobos V Feb. ll, 1936 2,135,647 Streby Nov. 8, 1938 2,158,454 Zubiria g g May 16, 1939 2,524,372 Bopp et al Oct. 3, 1950 

